GARETH ROWAN

Too Country’s unmistakable front man, Gareth Rowan, picked up the harmonica at the age of six and got his first guitar at 14.

He was raised on a diet of Willie Nelson, George Jones, Don Williams, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris and George Hamilton IV, honing his playing skills and singing harmonies with those great old songs on the Black Box record player at home,

Later Rockabilly, Psychobilly and Stax Soul began to flavour the musical brew and Gareth got a taste for playing live with the legendary Deadworth Crazies Rhythm and Soul Review.  Gareth also trained at RADA with Ralph Feinnes, Alex Kingston, Joely Richardson and Steve MacFadden.  There he teamed up with Double Bassist Comedian, Jim Tavare.  The two worked together for many years, touring the world, playing the Edinburgh Festival three times - culminating in Jim's Channel 5 series which is still showing on New Zealand and Australia...

In 1994 Gareth took a job touring in "Patsy Cline - A Musical Tribute".  Suddenly all that pent up Country Music came flooding out, and Gareth was employed in a variety of roles playing Bass, Guitar, Harmonica and Banjo.  It was on this tour that Gareth got to meet and work with one of his earliest influences George Hamilton IV,  who encouraged and inspired Gareth and, when the show closed after a successful  West End run, Gareth started to focus his energy on Country music, realising that's where he is most truly at home.

A chance meeting with Harley Dave began the process that has led to Too Country – The Uk’s ONLY Texas tried ‘n’ tested honky tonk band.  Along the way, Gareth has played The Broken Spoke, Ginny’s Little Longhorn Saloon, The Carousel Lounge and Jovita’s, singing both pre-loved classics and his own material, both to great acclaim, back in its spiritual homeland.  As a founder member of Too Country, he has opened for US acts like Dale Watson, BR549, Slaid Cleaves, Alison Moorer, Hot Club of Cowtown, Billy Yates, Moot Davis & Pete Anderson, Jesse Dayton, and is currently a popular guest on both recording sessions and live performances by artists in the UK requiring his superb harmonica playing and charismatic stage presence. 

Recently he has teamed up with BJ Cole, the UK Pedal Steel Guitar legend, and with Deke on Bass, they form a formidable trio concentrating on some of Country Music's more sophisticated tunes.

Too Country exists to bring a little of the Honky Tonks  and Dancehalls of Texas to folks in need of Twang, and with Gareth at the mic, you'll feel like you're there!!!